The communities of Parkville and Platte City are gearing up for their annual Independence Day celebrations this week. Expect fireworks at both locations.

Parkville’s celebration will span four days, beginning Wednesday and running through Saturday in that city’s historic downtown. Highlights will include a carnival and food vendors all four days, with a parade and fireworks on Friday, July 4.

A parade is also set for Friday at Parkville, with Kevin Green, owner of a construction company featured on ABC television’s Extreme Home Makeover program, serving as grand marshal and Bill Grigsby, the Prince of Parkville, serving as emcee. The parade begins at 63rd St. and Hwy. 9 and ends in downtown Parkville.

An exhibition sky diving team will perform at 10 a.m. and at 8:30 p.m. on July 4 in downtown Parkville. A pancake breakfast is set at the American Legion on July 4 beginning at 7 a.m. and running till 11 a.m.

Fireworks over the Missouri River will be set off in downtown Parkville at 9:45 Friday night.
Shuttle buses will run to downtown from the Platte County Community Center South and the Park Hill South High School.

For more details on Parkville’s celebration, see the advertisement on page B-1 of this issue of The Landmark.

PLATTE CITY’S EVENT
Activities in Platte City are confined to Friday, July 4, and will kick off with a 5K Memorial Walk/Run for a scholarship fund in the name of Kelsey Ryan. Kelsey was a Park Hill South High School student and a lifeguard at the Platte City Swimming Pool who was killed in a traffic accident on Interstate 29 on a snowy night this past winter.

There’s a minimum $10 donation to take part in the walk/run. Registration starts at 6:30 a.m. at the Platte County High School football field (Pirates Stadium). The run will begin at 7 a.m.

The first 60 people will receive memorial T-shirts. Those who register after the first 60 will have shirts ordered for them after the race.

For those who prefer not to walk/run in the event, a donation will still earn a T-shirt.

A free pancake breakfast will be held at the school immediately after the race.

For more information on the day’s activities, see the advertising message on pages A-6 and A-7 of this issue of The Landmark.

The day will be capped with a fireworks display beginning around 9:50 p.m. at Pirates Stadium.

Concessions for the night-time activities at the stadium will consist of water, popcorn, and candy, and will be available for purchase from the Pirate Booster Club. Applications for Pirate Hall of Fame nominations will also be available.

Afternoon activities will take place at the Platte City Swimming Pool and the J.W. Lewis Park next to the pool. Those afternoon activities will include free hot dogs and sodas, pool games, a moonwalk, face painting and craft projects.

The complete schedule of events for Platte City’s 4th of July celebration: